Abbas ready for talks with Israel

Palestinian leader says he is ready to negotiate if settlement building is halted.

10 Feb 2009 06:19 GMT

Abbas says talks will be on condition that Israel stops building settlements [EPA]

They also urged all sides not to squander the opportunity provided by the administration of Barack Obama, the US president.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Abbas, announced on Monday that Palestinians "would not deal with any Israeli government unless it is completely committed to peace".

In a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, Abu Rudeineh said the Palestinian side was fully committed to a two-state solution.

"We will not deal with an Israeli government unless it is committed to comprehensive peace, the two-state solution, the road map, the Arab peace initiative and stopping settlements," the statement said.